>>>WB4GQK at aol.com 10/02/04 4:43 PM >>>
The move towards APRS-MARS is not to use APRS on MARS,
but to use APRS in support of MARS by continuing to
operate on 144.39 as usual, but just using APRS as a back-channel
to keep aware of who is on the air, live and where.
The APRSdos APRSMARS program displays the locations
of all MARS members by showing the normal APRS calls
but then the MARS calls in RED. Thus a quick look at the
map will reveal ALL MARS operators that are on-line.
But since the cross correlation of the MARS calls is not
done over the air, there is no loss in operational security.
Only stations with the official correlation file will see the
MARS stations...
Remember that all MARS members are HAMS. If those HAMS
are on APRS, then why not tag them so that the APRS map
shows the MARS guys live. There is no intent to pass any MARS
traffic on APRS. Simply to use it for "situational awareness" of
net members...location, activity, and status.
de WB4APR, Bob